Dear Members:
Thank you for your continued support of the Merrimac Snowbusters. The 2024/25 snowmobiling season offered some interesting situations with great Snow in the UP, OK Snow in northern WI and our trails were open for a week. During that time, we did get to use our new Groomer and that allowed us to make many shake down runs to be better prepared for this year while training more operators!
The Text Service will continue to operate for updates this year, as well as a revised website with many added functions www.merrimacsnowbusters.com
As with anything in life we have lots of changes for 25/26’. We look forward to a great year with many events and activities planned. Please check out the info below in the newsletter as we look forward to your involvement with the Merrimac Snowbusters.
Community Involvement:
Our main focus for the upcoming 2025/26 season is getting as many of you involved as possible! We want to see more members at our community events and helping with trail work.
Our club is about more than just snowmobiling; it’s also about giving back to our community. If you know someone who might be a good fit, please invite them to a workday, a club meeting, or even just a group ride to show them what we’re all about. The more we grow, the more we can do together.
We successfully held the annual Moon Valley Fisheree on February 15th 2025, and despite some challenging setup conditions, we had a fantastic turnout.
This year’s fundraising event(s) are still being planned, the Fisheree committee may be considering a new date, location, and theme. As always, all proceeds from the event will be used to support foundations, scholarships, and individuals in need within our community. The club remains committed to sponsoring this event and working with its founders to host a fun day while giving back to the community.
Our Adopt-A-Highway efforts along Highway 78 are still underway. We are responsible for cleaning this section three times a year, and the date for our next cleanup will be announced soon.
When the time comes, we will meet at the Ferry Xing and shuttle everyone to the cleanup locations. Please join us if you can—every volunteer makes a difference!
The County will be having an open house Saturday October 4, 2025 at the new groomer shed located in Baraboo. We would love members to see our fleet of equipment and our new location. It is quite impressive to have it all in one great location. We are encouraging club members throughout the County to join us for a work day beginning at 8am followed by lunch provided by ASCSC and our October meeting to begin around 1pm. Please let your clubs know and encourage attendance.
Fund Rasing:
Last year’s ATV raffle was a huge success, and we’re considering bringing it back again. Selling tickets for that raffle was a big commitment for the club, but the effort paid off. The county will also be holding their annual gun raffle, with tickets for that available as well.
When the time comes, please consider helping us sell tickets. The more members who get involved, the easier it will be to reach our goals. You can pick up books of tickets at our next monthly meeting (once they are available) or by reaching out to a board member.
Membership:
Your club membership for the 2024-2025 season expired on June 30, 2025. Please renew by completing the attached form and returning it to a club member or mailing it to PO Box 124, Merrimac, WI 53561.
We also now have Online Sign-Up/Renewal on our website that is serviced by Venmo
Your support is crucial. The AWSC’s work helps maintain Wisconsin’s 25,000 miles of snowmobile trails, which are among the best in the nation. Thank you for your continued support.
Important Deadlines and Information:
- Renew by December 1, 2025, to avoid a $5 processing fee.
- Find your AWSC membership number on your AWSC magazine or on the AWSC website.
- Your club membership makes you eligible for discounted trail passes ($10 instead of $30).
- Trail passes are mailed by the DNR and can take up to 21 days to arrive, so renew early!
Board Member Elections
Ted Walmer has stepped down as president, and we want to thank him for his outstanding service to the club.
We’re excited to welcome our new leadership: Gordy Banta as President and Dale Caygill as Vice President. They are eager to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to continue building on the great work Ted and others have done. Please contact any board member to share your suggestions for strengthening our club and community.
Trail Maintenance and Signage:
First, a huge thank you to all our landowners! We couldn’t do any of this without your support. There are over 40 Landowners involved with making our trails possible.
Looking ahead to October, we’ll have several workdays for trail cleanup, trimming trees, and putting up new signs. It’s a perfect chance to meet other club members while helping get the trails ready for the season. As a bonus, your work helps you earn a discounted membership!
We’re also still exploring the possibility of building a bridge over Skillet Creek in the Devils Lake area. We’ll keep you posted on that project as it develops.
What to bring? Chainsaws, shears, clippers, eye protection, gloves.
Workday Schedule:
All work dates will begin at 8:00 am at Charlies Lakeside County Store, Merrimac, WI unless otherwise noted. Special workdays will be sent out via Text
- Saturday, October 11th
- Saturday, October 18th
- Saturday, October 25st
- Saturday, November 2th – If Needed
Club Meetings:
Our monthly meetings are held at the Merrimac Conservation Club, unless we announce a change via email. We encourage all members to attend—it’s a great opportunity to connect with other families and support our local businesses.
Snowmobiling is a fantastic family sport, and community involvement is key to supporting our trails and the sport we love. We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Meeting Schedule: 2nd Wednesdays of the Month
- October 8th at 7:00 pm
- November 12th at 7:00 pm
- December 10th at 7:00 pm
- January 14th at 7:00 pm
- February 11th at 7:00 pm
- March 11th at 7:00 pm
- April 8th at 7:00 pm
Think snow and thank you for your support!
Merrimac Snowbusters Snowmobile Club 